Rev. Fr. Paul A. Kaplanis, Dean

Fr. Paul Kaplanis, son of Anthony, (fallen asleep in the Lord) and Nitsa Kaplanis was born in Danbury, Connecticut is the youngest of three brothers.

Father graduated from Western Connecticut State University in 1979, with a B.S. Degree in Social Science and History. In September 1979, he entered Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.

On June 27, 1982, Father and Presbytera Evi (Spiliopoulou) Kaplanis were married at the Dormition Greek Orthodox Church in Danbury. In 1983, he graduated with his Master's of Divinity Degree and upon receiving the Taylor Scholarship, Father enrolled in the Master's Program at the University of Thessaloniki, Greece.

After one year, he returned to the U.S and was ordained by His Grace Bishop PHILIP to the Holy Diaconate at his hometown parish on October 28, 1984 and to the Holy Priesthood on November 11, 1984 at the St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Clifton, NJ. He was assigned to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church as Assistant Priest, where he served for 7 1/2 years under Fr. George Nicozisin. On August 2, 1992, he was assigned by Bishop PHILIP of Atlanta to his own parish, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Raleigh, NC where he served for over 18 years. In February of 1993, Father was bestowed with the Offikia, (office) of father confessor and stavroforos by Bishop PHILIP and in September 2002, His Eminence Metropolitan ALEXIOS bestowed upon Father the Offikion (office) of Protopresbyter. On January 18, 2015 His Eminence Metropolitan ALEXIOS, on behalf the Ecumeincal Patriarch, bestowed upon Father the Offikion of Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the highest office a married priest can receive.

Over the years, Fr. Paul has served on the Youth Committee of the Metropolis, held the Office of Secretary on the Archdiocese Presbyter's Council for 8 years. Most recently he held the same position for 4 and is currently serving as it's Vice-President. He also served as the only priest representative for Greek Orthodox Archdiocese on the Charter Revision Committee. Currently he is the President of the Metropolis of Atlanta Clergy Syndesmos. Father's hobbies include, sports, old movies, golf (although he rarely plays) and reading.

Fr. Paul and Presbytera Evi have three children, a son Michael, a graduate of Duke University, who is married to Vasilea Lagos and lives in Clearwater, Florida and two daughters, Katerina a graduate of North Carolina State and Christina, a graduate of Duke University, who live and work in New York City.

Rev. Fr. Christos P. Mars, Presbyter

Fr. Christos Mars was born and raised in Palos Hills, IL, a suburb of Chicago. He grew up in the Community of S.S. Constantine and Helen under the watchful eye of Fr. Byron Papanikolaou of blessed memory.

Upon completion of High School, Fr. Christos attended the University of Illinois at Chicago and earned his Bachelor’s degree in English. Upon graduation, Fr. Christos attended Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, where he earned his Master’s degree in Divinity in 2006. From 2006-2007, Fr. Christos completed his coursework for his second Master’s degree, this time in theology, specializing in liturgics.

While studying at the Seminary, Fr. Christos met and married Presbytera Marilisse, who was from Athens, Georgia, who was completing her undergraduate degree in Religious Studies from Hellenic College. They married on the feast day of St. Phanourios, August 27, 2006.

Fr. Christos was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on May 21, 2007 at his home parish of S.S. Constantine and Helen in Palos Hills, Illinois, and thirty three days later, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood, again at his home parish on the feast of the Birth of St. John the Baptist, June 24, 2007.

Before coming to the Annunciation Cathedral in Atlanta, Fr. Christos served the parish of the Annunciation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Fr. Christos was given the Offikion (office) of Father Confessor by His Eminence Metropolitan ALEXIOS of Atlanta on November 14, 2010. He was also given the Offikion (office) of Sakellarios by His Eminence Metropolitan ALEXIOS of Atlanta on November 10, 2013. He is the Vice-President of the Metropolis of Atlanta Clergy Syndesmos as well as the President of the Atlanta Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood. He also currently chairs the Acolyte Training Committee and the Program for Continuing Education for Permanent Deacon as well as the Liturgical Text Committee for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta as well as serving as liturgical chair for several Metropolis youth events.

Fr. Christos and Presbytera Marilisse have one son, John, whom they were blessed to adopt.

Elias Lampropoulos, Pastoral Assistant

Elias Lampropoulos was born in Patras, Greece. He lived there until his graduation from the Ecclesiastical High School in 1997. He moved to Thessaloniki to study theology at the Aristotle University and graduated with an M.Div. in 2002.

He returned back to Patras to work in the family business and teach in the Sunday School of St. Sophia’s Parish for three years. In 2005, he joined the Greek Air Force to fulfill his military service, which he completed one year later.

From 2007 to 2011 he was the administrative assistant at the Patmos’ Patriarchical Exarchate and the monastery of St. John the Theologian in Patmos, Greece. At that time he taught Greek as a second language to adults and participated in local educational and cultural committees. He also enrolled in the European Culture Studies Master Program of the Open University of Patras, in which he continues his studies today.

His great love of theological studies brought him to the United States in 2012, where he enrolled in the Th.M. program at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theological in Boston, Massachusetts with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan ALEXIOS. He will be finishing his master thesis in the coming academic year, focusing on Church History and Patristic Studies.

He enjoys History, Classical Literature, Theatre and European Cinema. Elias is excited to serve the Annunciation Cathedral of Atlanta and is overjoyed at the opportunity to join a community, which he describes as faithful, loving and welcoming.